Means for supporting and concealing folding beds



ay H. L. MONROE ET Ax.

`MEANS FOR SUPP-ORTING AND CONCEALING FOLDING BEDS Filed Sept. 22. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ma 10 1927. I

y H. L. MONROE ET Ax.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ANDKCONCEALING FOLDING BEDS Filed sept. 22, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZNVENTOR me @MKM/22W .fL/V /f/ 0 fmxmc@ ATTORNEYS May 10, 1927.

H. l.. MONROE MEANS FoRuPPoRTING AND coNcEALING FOLDING BEDS ET AL Filed Sept. 22, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 lill! [N VENTOf-"fs ATTORNEYS Patented May 10, 1927.

Unirse STATES man@ Para,NT ortica.

HARRY L. MONROE AND WILLIAM GRAMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MEANS FOR SUPPORTING ANI.) CONCEALING FOLDING BEDS.

Application led September 22, 1922. Serial No. 589,796.

This invention relates to improvements in fer to eliminate such doors. More specifically stated, an object is to produce a folding A bed and a support therefor adapted to be moved into and out of a hollow wall.

Another object is to provide supporting means whereby the bed is pivotally balanced to swing freely from an upright position to a horizontal position, and a eounterbalancing device permitting free vertical movement of the bed and its pivotal support. kThe bed may be pivotally connected to the counterbalancing device whereby it is supported and permitted to swing freely in an arc of a circle, without moving the counterbalancing device, and when the bed occupies a horizontal position the counterbalance becomes effective to permit free vertical movement of the bed and its pivot. Then the bed occupies its-upright position, the pivotal support is inan elevated position remote ,from the 30 Hoor, and the bed can freely swing on the pivot to a horizontal position. The bed' and its pivotal support can thenbe lowered until the bed rests upon the iioor.

A further object is to provide an improved 3"" means for detachably securing the bed to its support, so as to permit the bedto be shifted to any desired location remote from the support.

lilith the vforegoing and other objects in view,- the invention comprisesthe novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodimentof the invention. However, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come lwit-hin the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Briefly stated, the specific structure herein shown comprises a folding bed movable in a straight line from a concealed position in a hollow wall to an exposed position in the passageway between two rooms. During such movement, the bed occupies an upright position and itis moved edgewise through a narrow, vertical opening in the jamb at one side of said passageway. The bed is pivoted to a horizontally movable carriage whereby it is carried from the interior of the wallr to said passageway, and when located in the passageway the bed can swing freely on its pivotal support to a horizontal position partly within the passageway and partly within the ltwo rooms on opposite sides thereof. After the bed has been turned from its upright position, it can be readily raised and lowered in the passageway, the pivotal support being suspended from a counterbalancing device to permit free vertical movement of the bed and its pivot. Then in a horizontal position the bedican be detached and withdrawn from the passageway to any'desired position in either of the rooms. i

Fig. Iy is a side elevation showing a portion of a hollow `wall and a bed located in a passageway in the wall, the concealed position of the bed being indicated by dot and dash lines.

Fig. II is avertieal section taken approximately on the line Il-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a horizontal section yshowing the carriage from which the bed is suspended. i

Fig. IV is a fragmentary side elevation showing thelocking device mounted in the carriage to lock the counterbalancing device.

Fig. V is avert-ical section showing the legs at one end of the bed and portions of the headboard` or footbovard, extending upwardly from the legs. Y

Fig. VI is a side elevatiol'i, partly in section'7 showing approximately one-half of the bed, and also showinga portion of the hollow wall in which the bed may be concealed.

FigWI is a section taken approximately on the line VII-VII in Fig. VI.

F VIII is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line VIII-VIII in Fig., VI, showing the headboard, or footboard, in the position it occupies when folded toward the body of the bed.

Fig. IX is an enlarged side elevation showinfY a portion of one of the'side rails of the bed, anda portion of the means whereby motion may be transmitted from the head to the foot' of the bed.

Before-describing the bed structure, we will point .out the bed compartment and the lll y bel' 12 lacing; iu the lfoi'm o' :i rolia'. l?,

sind 1.3 designate pivots el'eifilingj liom :i heil (Figs. l :incl Vl), und Secured lo the suspension ronls l0, :is will ha howzi'lf'lei lescribed, lo foi-111 :i pii'olrl support for the huil.

VUnder certain :"onililions lo he hoi-enfin?? pointed out, il: is desirable lo prevent Vomtiion oil" lh@ shaft T to which one @mi ol.I lh@ 3l. Emol] leg 29 is iigiilly scoured to :1 :iegmcnl'zil gom' 232 piyolofl :il lio one ol: the

'All

'roo

Foil

motion is imparted to all of .the other mem.- bers, so as to simultaneously iold .or unfold the legs 29 and boards/30 and 3l.

Vhen the legs andthe boards A30 and 3l are folded, the boards ,are .pressed upon the bed clothes (not shown) to .secure the same, and they are locked intheirfolded positions through the medium of aratchet .def vice shown in Figs. V, VI, VII and VIII. Thebrackets 28 adjacent to the t'ootboard 30 are `provided with internal ratchetteeth 39 adapted-to be engaged by dogs 40 secured to `springs41 arranged within the footboard 30 and having their lower ends secured` yboard, headboard and legs are lfolded, vthe footboard 130 occupies the approximately horizontal position shown in Fig. VI, so as 4to Aengage the bed clothes, and it is then locked `throughthe medium of the dogs 40 cooperating with ratchet teeth 39. Since the footboard is connected to the legs and headboard, it willbe understood that the dogs .40' and ratchet yteeth 39 serve as means for locking all of theseparts. Before unfolding the parts, the lever `43 (Fig. V) is operated to release the dogs 40.

Thebracliets 28 at the ends of side rails 27 serve as housings for the segmental gears 34, as shown by Figs. V andVI, and each of these housings is provided Awith a'closure 44 adapted to move from the position shown by full lines in Fig. VI to the position shown by Adot and dash lines. In this view it will be noted that the closure 44 is piv- 'oted Vat 45 to the -footboard 30, and that vits lower edge is movable over the Alower portion of bracket `28 in response to the folding and unfolding motions of the footboard IVe will now describe the mea-ns whereby the footboard, headboard V,and legs arelocked whenthe bed is unfolded and supported on the floor. VThe footboard 30 comprises a pair ot tubular side members (Figs. V and VI) alined with the legs 29 immediately beneath vthe same. `46 designates locking arms, each having a ylocking head 46 arranged Vpartly withinthe upper end of a -leg 29 and partly wit-hin the lower end of footboard 30. Each locking arm 46 is pivoted to a bracket secured to one of the side rails 27, as shown in Fig. VI. Each `leg V29 at the `foot of thebedcontainsl a vertical,

fslidableflocking rod 47 Ahaving its upper` end engaged lwith a locking arm 46 and pro- Ain their `upright positions.

vided Vwithiacaster at its lower end. Vhen the parts are positioned .as shown in Figs. VV and VI, the 'foot otthe bed is supported on the castersat the lower. ends of rods 47 and the load is transmitted Vthrough these rods to the casters. It will therefore be understood that-.the .rods 47 cooperate with locking arms 46 to retain the heads 46 in the lower ends ofthe ootboard 30, and the heads/46 then cooperate with the footboard to retain-the legs, footboard and headboard l In Fig. VI, note that the footboard 30 is pivoted at, and that the head 46` prevents the ootboard from moving about the axis of the pivot.

IVhen the bed is lifted from the Hoor, the vlocking arms .46th-op by gravity to release the locking heads V46 from the footboard, thereby unlocking the footboard, as well as the headboard and legs, these parts of the bed being operatively connected together, as previously pointed out.

rThe bed is pivotally connected' to the horizontally movable carriage through the medium of pivots 13 and 18 extending through the lower ends of suspension rods 10, and the pivots are located approximately midway between the ends of the bed so fas to approximately equalize the weight at opposit-e sides of the pivots. The counterbalance spring 14 tends torotate the shaft 7 and its camsf on which the suspension chains 9 are mounted, and the power transmitted from the spring tends toflift 'the bed. Consequently, the bed can be very readily lifted vfrom the door, and when the pivots 13-13 are high enough, the bed can be easily moved in an arc of a circle about the axis of the pivots to a vertical position in alinevment with the vbed compartment in thevhollow wall, as shown by dot and dash lines in Fig. II. The bed is then alined with the narrow entrance to the bed compartment, and sinceit is supported by the horizontally movable cariage, it can be easily moved in a Yhorizontal line parallel with the axis of its pivots 13, so as to pass into the bed `com- Ypartment.

IVhen the bed is located in the horizontal position Shown by yfull lines in Fig. II, it

lies partly within the transverse passageway 1n the wall and partly within the two rooms iio at opposite sides of the passageway. How- Y ever, the bed can be readily disconnected from its suspension members'. and moved on its casters to any desiredvposit-ion in either of the rooms.

To disconnect the bed, it is necessary to lock the counterbalancing device, and this requires an excess downward movemento'f one of the suspension members. In Figs. VI and VII, 48' designates a lever pivoted ,at 49 to a wing 50 secured to one of thel side rails 27, and thepivot l'extends Afrom this lever. After the bed is supported on iso tk ms tho Hooi't ihn lrror lil in inovoil lownwarrily lo impart a ilownwarel niovnnioint to tho sun ponsion roll l() alloro tho pivot lll, tliorohy ilnlmrtiinf motion lo tho Shaft i' and `i s; looking; (link 1li #o as; lo aline tho oponing: in Saiil (lilik with tho opringr--inofisol lool? iur; holt 2li, Tho holt thon rotors tho oponinff in tho ilinl; no au lo lool( tho .allait anti tho nounlrrhalanro Spring. Tho son iwusion rml` lll thon lianoA loosely 'lroin tho ovorlioail cairiano :nul that' can ho roaililyY roniovoil l'roni tho giii'olr-i l unil ll, no as lo iliorouuort ihr huil troni ihn rari'iaggo. ln rfintoring;` tho hofl, tho Suspnnaiou nioinhow: 'l0 alo ailwlioil lo tho Pirola aiul the lovin' ali-S is:` again uiovml downwardly lo oliniinulo lriotion holwoon tho lof'ltiugr hollv Lilli :unl rlisk lil. Tho rural lii thon iuillotl to with draw tho looltiini; holt SRU troni tho dialin` thorrhy I wrinittinn tho rounlorhalanriinf flovino to not upon tho hoil.

The fountnrliialaiii-inn- #tiring ll in wouiul and unwoi'lnil in insomnio lo riu'tii'al inoiimonta ol tho limi, :unl torina [ho unainilw ing' oporation tho loroo oi' tho Spring glrailu ally hnronioa woakor. rlo roiniionaato `tor thvso variations in tho spring, tho poripln oral 'facon of nains 8 (Figo. ll unil lll) aro so forniofl that tho lines ot montant holin'oon the snsponoion Chains antl tho vaina grail nali;T approach tho axifa ol shalt T when tho hocl. is niovoil upwardly. 'ily Winzling tho chains onto carni; in this manner, tho etloct ot tho ooun'orhalancing device is to approximately balance tho Woight o'l tho heil when tho latter is locatorl at tlitlioront olevations relativo to the floor.

Closure plaira ('10 :intl (Si, aro sonni-oil to tho i'ospontivo ends o'l`A tho oarriagzgo hy moans o'l depending hraoliotn Gil, as Shown in lligs. ,l anfl ll. ll'hon tho heil occupies its oonroaloil position, the rortiral plato (il) olouoa tho entrano@ to tho heil coninartniont, unil Whon th(` hoil in Cxposoilj this4 outrance is rloooll hy the plato Gl.

,lho lover i8 is nornnilli' looliofl to the boil as lhown h v Figs. Vl' ainl VIL a small looking: lover (Sil boing); nirotoil to said lover ill and proviiloil with a looliingld pin Gil; ailapiwl 'lo hn orojnvlnil lin-oooh tho Wing llll. tif'i ilonigfjnatw a :airing: t ll i411'. Vil) :ich ing upon lortu ll to tinhlingrl'v rotain tho li'iolcingz; pin lil in (ho wing; Jill. llnl'oro ilatarhini ihn hoil. tho fanali, l vor (3:3 in tintin ntoil lo union-l; tho` loror lo, :nul tho lallor in thon inoroil ilownn'arilly rotativo to tho hill, no au lo loch tho nounli-rlialainfingg elw Viro, as; proviously pointed out.

l.. ln a heil structure :ulapl'ocl to ho roooivofl in a hollow Wall hav'in an entrano@ at one sirloot a. passageway hotvroon two rooms, a boil .support nioi'ahlo 'through said. ontranco so ao to pass from the interior ot Sfaiil nali lo a iiofsition in saliti passt growajig rolia :nul a lohlof'l hail rairiml hy slmif'l heil Sup-- pori, naiil hoi'l living inovahlo with suifl nupiiort lroni an iu'irin'l'it posiition in Saiil wall to an upright position in saii'l passageway, :nul oniil horl honig' inovahlo rolatit'o lo said sauniort l'roni the` lant inontionotl position to u, horizontal ponilion partly within said [uur ran'oway anil partly within Haul two rooms.

il. 'llio ronihination ol' a bod support ailaiuoil lo lin` in a roinlial'lninnt having a narrow olonlaloil rortiral finti-amro, a boil iu'oviiloil with l`ol lahlo lioail :unl il'oot1non'ihora .-rai limi hifinnr arrangmi in an iuln'ight l'ohlvil poration so as `to oon'lorin approxi- Inaloly' lo tho niillh ol saiil outrance, :nula pivotal oonuorliou xoonrinfj naiil had to Said ruiguioll. tho unisi ot llio pivotal oonnootiou honig: hotwool'i :iaifgl hoiul alul toot n'ufinbors, a lmrironlal trani; uliniolnl' :-aifl boil support, it: niiifiofl to i-arry (ho` plfohlorfl hofl through uaiil narrow ontranoa :Haiti `lirtl boing mov ahlo on naifl pivotal oounootion to `a horizoninl no "n mrow: nairl narrow entrance, :uni tho :mit o1" said pivotal (':onnootion ho infr parallnl with Suhl horizontal track.

il. ln :i lioil Structure adapted to be ro ('oii'oil in a hollow Wall having' a, narrow olonnutoil rorliral ontranco at one sido of a nawagroway hotwonn two rooms, a bod proriiloil with tohlahlo houd :intl ,toot members, s-ai itl had lining arranged in an upright toldocl position to lio .in said hollow wall with its upright; eilgoo alnocl with said narrow ontranoo` a heil Support adapted to be secured in Said hollow wall and pivotally connected to Saul hocl, and a horizontal trank whereby yQaid heil :nipport isi guided to carry the hed. through said narrow ontranooainl into aaitl pasuzigroway, saiil boil boinar n'ioyablo on tho pivotal connection to ahorzontal position partly within Said passageway and partly within Haul two roonio, and tho axis of Said pivotal connnrtion hoinn' piu'allol with said track. i Y i el. ln a hell structure aclaptocl to ho ro ooivotl in a hollow` wall having a narrow vorloal ontranco at our :sitio o'l a transvorso pasnaggowajf through tho wall, a 'folded hed arrangrofl in an upright `poaition to looato its upright migra in alinonwnt with siaiil on trillion, lunizonial tronic nrouroil ahorn tho hoil no ai: to oxlonil ovni' riaiil tianovoi'iio pass-f Holloway a oariiag'i-,x nuphorlril h if aairl honi zontal tranku Aowponsion inonihoro doponfl ino; troni :aaiil narriago :intl looatoil at opporlito Sillon olE Haiti hail@ piwlo oonnocrting` Saul hoil to Said suspension Inoinhnrs, Saifl oarriago boing niovahlo in a Straight horizontal lino alongl saifl track to carry the upright lionh susponsion ineinhors and pivots through nifl narrow outrance to points in Said pas :fagormin tho axis oit said pivots1 boing paraliol 'with saiil horizontal lino, and Said bed lioinlr inovahlo on tho pivots from an upright noaition in :will Luisoannway to a horizontal position wherein it extends entirely through ceived in a hollow wall having a narrow vertical entrance at one side of a.V transverse passageway through the` wall, a folded bed arranged in an upright position to locate its upright edges in alinement with said en trance, ahorizontal track vsecured above the bed so as to extend over said transverse passageway', a carriage supported by said horizontal track, suspension members depending from said carriage and located at opposite sides of said bed, pivots connecting said bed to said suspension members, said carriage being movable in a straight horizontal line alongsaid track to carry the upright bed, suspension members and pivots throughsaid narrow entrance to points in said passageway, the axis of said pivots Abeing parallel with said horizontal line, lsaid bed being movable on the pivots from an upright positionin said passageway to a horizontal position wherein it extends entirely through saidpassagewayl` saidfpivots being` located approximately midway between the ends of the bed to permit free pivotal movement of the bed, and a counterbalancing device carried by said carriage and cooperating with said suspension members topermit free vertical movement of the' bed.

6. The combination of a bed, a. pivotal support therefor, said pivotal support being near the middle of the bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at'opposite sides of the' pivotal support, the bed being movable about the axis of the pivotal lsupport to swing from ay horizontal position to a vertical position, a cou'nterbalancing device acting upon said pivotal support and tending to lift both the bed and the pivotalA support, anda carriage supporting said counterbalancing device and pivotal support, said carriage beingl guided in a straight horizontal line parallel with said axis.

7. The'combination of a bed, a carriage above the bed, suspension members depending from said carriage and pivotally connected to the sides of the bed, the axis of the pivotal connection being approximately midwa-.y between the ends of the bed so as to approximately equalizethe weight at opposite sides of said axis, the bed being movable about saidaxis to swing from an upright position to a horizontal position, and a counterbalancing device acting upon said suspension members and tending to move said bed and pivotal connection toward said carriage.

8. The combination of afbed, a carriagey above the bed, suspension members depending from said carriage and pivotally connected to the sides of the bed, the axis of the pivotal connection being approximately midway between the ends of the bed so as to approximatelyv equalize the weight rat opposite sides of saidl axis, the bed being movable about said axis to swing from an upright position to a horizontal position, a shaft carricd by said carriage and operatively connected to said suspension members, anda counterbalancing springV tending to rotate said shaft so as to transmit power to said suspension members. f

9. rllhe combination of a b'ed a carriage above the bed, suspension members depending from said carriage and pivotally connected to the sides of the bed, the axis of the pivotal connection being approximately midway betweenthe'endsof the bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at oppositeA sides of said axis, the bed being movable about said vaxis to swing from an upright` position to ahoizontal position, rotary' cams carried by said carriage and secured toV said suspension members, said cams having peripheral cam faces engagingsaid suspension members, and a counterbalancing spring tending to rotate said cams.

l0. rl`he combination of a bed, a 'pivotal support therefor, said pivotal support being lnear the middle-of the bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at opposite sidesof the pivotal support, the bed being movable about the axis of the pivotal support to swing from al horizontal position to a vertical position, suspen'sion members carrying said pivotal support, rotary winding cams secured to said suspension members, said cams having peripheral cam faces engaging' said suspension members, and a counterbalancing spring tending to rotate said cams.

, l1. rlhe combination of a folding bed, a counterbalancing device therefor, suspension members connecting said bed to said counterbalancing device, said bed being'movable from an upright position to a horizontal p0- sition, said counterbalancing device being effective when the bed reaches its horizontal position, said bed being detachable from said suspension members, and locking means for rendering said counterbalancing device ineffective while the bed occupies its horizontal position.

l2. The combination of a folding bed, a counterbalancing device therefor, suspension members connecting said bed to .said counterbala'ncing device, said bed being movable from an upright position to a horizontal positlon, f said counterbalancing device being effective when the bed reaches its horizontal position, said bed being detachable from said suspension members, and locking means for rendering said counterbalancing device ineffective while the bed occupies its horizontal position,l said locking means being responsive to movements of said suspension members.

13. The combination of a folding bed, a counterbalancing device therefor, suspension members eoimecting said bed to said eeuw lerbalaiuisino` device, said bed beinpi movable from an upright position to a horizontal position, said counterbalaneinp` device being,r el'ective when the bed reaches its horizontal position, said bed being,r detachable 'from said suspension members, looking means 'tor renderingi said eouiiterbalaneing device inetl'eetive while the bed occupies its horizontal position, said locking; means beingr respon sive to excess motion ol' one ot said suspen sion members, and a lever whereby such excess motion is imparted to the suspension member.

lll. The combination ot a bed, a carriage above the bed, suspension members depending from said carriage and pivotally connected to the Sides oit the bed, the axis ol" the pivotal comieetion being; approximately midway between the om s ot the bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at op posite sides ol said axis, the bed being niov able about said anis to swing trom an up right position to a horizontal position, a sha'l't carried by said carriage and operativelyr connected to said suspension members, a. counterbalancing spring;l tending;r to rotate Said shalt so as to transmit power to said suspension members, an automatic lool; to prevent rotation ol" said shalt, said lool; being responsive to excess motion et one ol" said suspension members, and a lever whereby such excess motion is imparted to the suspension member, said pivotal connection being` detachable to release the bed :troni the suspension members when `said locli is eliective.

15. The combination ot a bed. having pivotally mounted head and loot members, a pivotal support tor said bed, said pivotal support being; loeated intermediate ot the head and toot ot the. bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at the opposite Sides oit the pivotal support, the bed beingI nio 'able about the axis ol the pivotal suplport and the llivotal support being movable upwardlyv to .swing said bed trom a horizontal position to a vertical position and said pivotallv mounted head and toot inembers being capable ol inilepeiulent pivotal movement, and a carriage .sulumrtinp` said, pivotal support.

i 1G. ',llie combination ot a bed, a pivotal support therefor, said pivotal support being,` near the middle ol the bed so as to approximately,Y equalize the weight at the opposite sides ot the pivotal support, the bed being movable about the axis ol the pivotal support to swing trom. a horizontal position to a vertical position, a eouiiterbalanoing device acting; upon said pivotal support and tendina` to lil't both the bed and the pivotal support, a carriage simporting said counterbalanciniij device and pivotal support, said carriage being guided in a straight horizontal line, and means tor rendering; said counterbalancinu device inel'lective While the bed occupies its horizontal position.

l?. The combination ot a bed having pivotalljy mounted head and lootn'iembers, a pivotal support tor said bed, said pivotal sluiport being near the middle ol the bed so as to approximately equalize the weight at the opposite sides ot the pivotal support, the. bed being movable about the axis ot the pivotal support to swing; :trom a vertical position to a horizontal position and said bed beinpdetachable from said pivoted support, a countei'balaneing devine acting upon said pivotal support and tending to litt both the bed and the pivotal support, looking means i'or rendering' said counterbalancing device inelteetive while the bed occupies its liori zent-al position, and a. carriage supporting said counterbalaneinp,r device and Vpivotal support, said carriage being,l guided in a. straight horizoi'ital .line parallel livith said adapted to lie in an upright position in a cinnpartinent, said bed havingl pivotally mounted head and toot members including lejigs which serve to support the bed on a lloor, a carriage to which said `bed is pivolally connected, said pivotal connection. beingI intermediate ot the head and :toot ot said bed and said carriage being adapted to cariv the bed into and out ot said compartineut, the` bed being movable about the piv etal eonneetion to a horizontal posit-ion outside ol said compartment, .saiilpivotal connection being' movable vertioally to raise and louer the bed relative to said carriage, and said pivotal romulrtion being detachable to relrase the bed l'rom said carriage.

ln testimony that we claim the .foregoing ueliereunto allx our signatures.

HARRY L. MONROE. Wll il illllvl C lt lll/HER.

s. l lo. rlhe eoinlmiation,ot a folding bed 

